Sen. Michelle Hinchey

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on caste in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections, defining caste as a hereditary social hierarchy that restricts mobility and rights. The law makes it unlawful for employers, housing providers, or public accommodations to deny services or opportunities based on caste, alongside other protected characteristics like race or gender. This directly affects individuals from communities where caste-based discrimination occurs, such as certain South Asian diaspora groups, by extending legal safeguards to these specific circumstances.

Expands eligibility for the New York state excelsior scholarship award to certain applicants enrolled on a part-time basis or in a BOCES or other approved vocational program; provides criteria for eligibility, and limits on amounts and durations for any such awards.

Establishes that the council on human blood and transfusion services shall review all current medical research and guidance regarding the donation of blood by patients with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses.

Updates the definition of the term "reusable bag", as used in the environmental conservation law, to specify minimum material and durability standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September each year as "Firefighter, Police Officer and Emergency Medical Technician Appreciation Month" in New York State. It creates a symbolic recognition period to honor these public safety professionals, with no associated funding, policy changes, or holiday status. The designation applies to all firefighters, police officers, and EMTs in the state, acknowledging their service through a formal legislative acknowledgment. The measure does not alter any existing laws or provide new benefits. (1 sentence)

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7954 amends the requirements for organizations providing fiscal intermediary services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It expands the definition of "fiscal intermediary" to include more entities, such as certain service centers for independent living, granting them equal status to the statewide fiscal intermediary. These newly defined fiscal intermediaries can contract directly with managed care plans and must provide culturally and linguistically competent services. The bill also removes the specific procurement process for a single statewide fiscal intermediary, aiming to offer consumers more choice in these services.

Establishes the "small water utility transparency act"; requires the public service commission and the department of environmental conservation to conduct audits of certain private water companies; requires certain private water companies which are under certain investigations to file public updates on the status of compliance with such orders.

Establishes the "reciprocal enforcement of claims on unpaid or reduced state entitlements act" which requires a report on delinquent funds owed to the state by the federal government as a result of the federal government's nonpayment in contravention of a court decision and the withholding and appropriation of federal funds in an amount equal to.

Establishes the New York long term care trust program to provide long term care benefits for eligible residents who have paid the required premium contributions and are in need of assistance with at least two activities of daily living as determined by the department of health.

Prohibits publicly owned treatment works from accepting wastewater associated with the exploration, delineation, development, or production of natural gas from high-volume hydraulic fracturing; provides exceptions.